Portugal remained undefeated in the first two matches of this year’s Nations League, with Félix stepping up to the plate, with Cristiano Ronaldo staying on the bench and Norway’s goalkeeper Niland making a mess of things.
The Norwegians had the most and the best scoring chances; they missed every opportunity they could in front of the opponent’s goal, and even when they did score, they watched the Portuguese immediately retake the lead.
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Félix’s magnificent shot in the 17th minute put Portugal ahead, with Haaland having already missed good chances to score. City’s “Viking” didn’t let it get to him or get discouraged, and he temporarily equalized with a tap-in off a header by Berg in the 51st minute to make it 1-1. And yet, the Iberians had an immediate response. A massive blunder by Niland led to a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute courtesy of Gonzalo Ramos’s stunning lob, and in the 59th minute, the same player found the net again—once more due to a goalkeeper error—though he was offside.
Jesus’s team made it 2-2 after their toughest opening-round victory against Wales in League A of the Nations League.
With the same ease, more goals, and a clean sheet, Ireland passed its first test against Israel, winning 3-0. Halgrímsson’s players, wearing black armbands in memory of the victims, with their heads bowed during the playing of the Israeli national anthem and refusing to shake hands with their opponents, secured a decisive victory in Debrecen.
Parrot in the 13th minute, Aida in the 16th, and Moylan in the 25th—each kissing their armband to dedicate the victory to the victims of Gaza—sealed the result.
*photo source: KYPE
